of east spbingfield



(Model.)

J. J. COOK.

` WIRE STRBTGHEB..

' N0. 287,244. Patented 001;. 23, 188s.

INVEN'TR "JMA/y 'j Mci WJ'TNESS N. PETERS. Phnmummpnq. wishingw". n.c.

`JOHN J. COOK, OF EAST SPRINGFIELDNEV YORK.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,244, datei October 23, 1883.

' Application iled January 9. 1883. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern: t

Be it known that I, JOHN J. COOK, a citi- 'zen of the United4 States, residing at East Springfield, in the county of Otsego and State of New York, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in Vire-Siretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention has relation to improvements in wire-stretchers, and is intended, chiefly, to be used in tightening the wires of wire fences and for unreeling the same.

' In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, I show the means of accomplishing these objects.

Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the wire-stretcher. In` this view the lever E is shown to have a pawl, K, and spring I, causing the pawl to engage in the ratchet-teeth f of the bearing F in such manner as to maintain the lever E in any position in which it may be placed. The plunger H in this view is shown to be Yserrated at the bottom, where it bears against the wire in the recess G, as this construction causes it to have greater holdin g-power and prevents the slipping of the wire. Fig. is a sectionalview of the stretcher on the line x x of Fig. 3.

A is the body of the machine. D is the l handle, which is rounded off toward the upper end, and is provided with a collar, B,

having a set-screw or thumb-nut, O, to secure itin the proper position. E is a lever extending from one side of the machine, and is pivoted at e in a suitable bearing, a, at-

tached to the machine in any convenient manner, preferably by screws or bolts, to permit its removal. The body A is 'hollowed out in a suitable manner to permit the introduction of a plunger, H. The plunger H is pivoted or otherwise attached to the lever E, and has a longitudinal movement in an open space within the body A, and is operated by the lever E, by means of which it can be raised or lowered for the introduction of or to hold the wire when introduced into the notch or opening G. In the bottom of the opening G is a depression, of any suitable shape, G', into which the plunger H enters when forced down by the lever E. This depression may be notched or serrated, to correspond with notches or serrations inthe plunger H, in such manrecesses in the other and give greater holdingpower on any object placed between the end of the plunger andthe bottom of the depres sion G.

The handle D is of rounded form'and adapted to receive a reel of wire of the ordinary construction, which is held in its proper position by the collar B, and permits the wire to be unreeled as required.

In using the stretcher the point M is placed against the post. The wire Wis carried from the reel B through the recess G, and is held fast in that position by the pressure of the plunger H, which bears against the upper part of the wire and forces it into the depression G/ by means of the lever E. As the upper part of the handle D is forced downwardly,

cruni, and the wire WV being held as above stated, it may in this manner be stretched to any desired extent.

In Fig. l I have shown the position of the reel in dotted lines and the course of the wire down and through the recess G.

The collar B is adjustable, and its position on the handle D is maintained by the thumbscrew O.

The lever E, that holds the wire, also forms a lever to keep the stretcher from turning while stretching. This stretcher can be worked in half the time of any other I am acquainted with.

Having described the invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent, and claim, is-

l. A wirefstretcher having the body A, provided with a tapered handle, D, and collar B, secured thereto by a thumb-screw, C, and the lever E, having plunger H, and pawl K, adapted to engage with notches f, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth. f

2. The wirestretcher having the` body A, the tapered handle D, the collar B, having setscrewO, the lever E, the plunger H, the guide J, and the notch G', substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, JOHN J. COOK.

Vitnesses:

S. A. SEWARD, A. H. DURFEY.

ner that the projections in one may enter the the point M bears against the. post as a ful- IOO 

